DR. G. BIRDWOOD ON THE GENUS BOSWELLIA. 121 
Persians, have ear-rings hanging in their ears. "Their shoes are such as others wear, 
but richly beautified with divers sorts of colours. 
‘Their soldiers, for ordinary pay, defend the country, fortifying themselves within 
camps and bulwarks; for there is a part of the island infested with most daring thieves 
and robbers, who often lurch and surprise the husbandmen. 
“To conclude, these priests, for delicacy, state, and purity of life, far excel all the rest 
of the inhabitants; their robes are of white linen, and sometimes of pure soft wool. 
They wear likewise mitres, embroidered with gold. Their shoes are sandals curiously 
wrought with exquisite workmanship; and in their ears hang golden ear-rings like to 
the women's. 
* They attend chiefly upon the service of the gods, singing melodious songs in their 
praises, setting forth their glorious acts and benefits bestowed upon men. The priests 
say they came originally from Crete, and were brought over into Panchæa by Jupiter 
when he was upon earth and governed all the world; and allege their language for a 
confirmation of this assertion, inasmuch as they retain many words of the Cretan speech 
among them : and further say that they derive from their ancestors that civility and 
kindness wherewith they entertain the Cretans, the fame and report of their ancient 
consanguinity descending continually in a perpetual succession to their posterity ; they 
show likewise a record written, as they say, by Jupiter's own hand, at the time when he 
was on earth and laid the foundation of the temple. , 
“There are in this island likewise mines of gold, silver, brass, and iron ; but it is not 
lawful for any to export them. Nay, it is not lawful for any of the priests to go out of the 
verge of the consecrated ground; and if any do, it is lawful for any man that finds 
them to kill them. They have under their charge innumerable vast vessels, and other 
consecrated things, both of gold and silver, which have been laid up there in honour of 
the gods for many ages. The gates of the temple are of admirable workmanship, 
beautified with gold, silver, ivory, and thyine wood 
* The bed of the god is six cubits long, and four broad, of massy gold, most curiously 
wrought in every part; near adjoining, stands the table, as large, and of the like mate- 
rials and workmanship with the other in every respect. 
* Tn the middle of the bed is placed a great golden pillar, whereon are letters inscribed, 
called by the Egyptians sacred writing, expressing the famous actions of Uranus, 
Jupiter, Diana, and Apollo, written, they say, by Mercury himself. But this may 
suffice concerning the islands lying in the ocean over against Arabia." gun qu. 
STRABO (B.c. 54—a.D. 24) says!, “ Frankincense is produced in Catabania and in the 
parts of Afriea opposite. Here the frankincense-tree grows along the banks of the 
Isis and Nilus. The country of the Sabæi produces not only frankincense, but balsam, 
sweet-smelling palms, calamus, and larimnum, a most fragrant perfume. By the trade 
in these aromatics both the Sabæans and the Gerrhæi have become the richest of 
all the tribes, and possess a great quantity of wrought articles in gold and silver, 
as couches, tripods, basins, drinking-vessels; to which we must add the costly mag- 
nificence of their houses; for the doors, walls, and roofs are variegated with inlaid 
1 Book xvi. chap. iv. Falconer and Hamilton's Translation, Bohn’s Classical Lib. 
R2 
